Water Users Association: SCWUA 'disappointed' by KBRA extension

Thursday

Jan 3, 2013 at 11:33 AMJan 8, 2013 at 1:53 PM

John Bowman

The Siskiyou County Water Users Association (SCWUA) has announced that they are disappointed but not surprised by the recent extension of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA). On Dec. 29, 2012, the 42 signatories to the original KBRA – signed in 2010 – completed the process of approving amendments that would extend the agreement's original expiration date from Dec. 31, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014 in order to give Congress more time to consider approving it. The agreement is a companion to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and outlines many of the peripheral circumstances of the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, including division of water distribution in the upper Klamath Basin in the event that the dams do come out.Full implementation of the KBRA and KHSA requires congressional approval of legislation that would provide final authorization for the agreements as well as some federal funding.In a Jan. 1 press release, SCWUA President Richard Marshall said the group is disappointed because "significant information has been provided regarding the misuse of the scientific process by the Department of Interior (DOI) and the revelations of Dr. Paul Houser, and now by the revelation of the situation in Marin County, with the oyster farm by Senator Diane Feinstein and Dr. Corey Goodman."Marshall says his group believes that DOI Secretary Ken Salazar "has clearly indicated that he can make decisions without being confused by good science," refering to reports that Salazar has indicated a predisposition to favor dam removal.As with many of the groups and individuals opposing dam removal, SCWUA believes that "the decision to try to remove four perfectly good and productive dams is politically motivated and has nothing to do with the coho salmon." The coho salmon is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is listed as endangered by the California ESA. Its status has been a key component of nearly every major water battle in the region. While nearly 30,000 Chinook returned to the Shasta River in 2012, only 139 coho have returned to the Shasta River (preliminary numbers as of Jan. 1). Due to different county procedures on the Scott River, 2012 population estimates are not yet available for that river.The 2012 fall Chinook return to the greater Klamath Basin was one of the largest on record and the SCWUA cites this as evidence that Klamath salmon populations are not endangered and their status does not warrant the removal of the dams. Marshall says, "This fact is further illuminated by the findings of Dr. Nathan Mantua of the Farrallon Institute and the JISAO study by the University of Washington marine scientists, who have tied the volume of salmon production to the Pacific decadal oscillation process." He notes, "The riverine system is at the tail end of the process when it comes to returning salmon. The DOI has indicated that any study of the impact of the ocean environment on the coho is not within its jurisdiction and should not be considered."The SCWUA release also references a recent Siskiyou County Superior Court ruling that stopped the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW, previously known as the Department of Fish and Game) from imposing permitting fees for the exercise of water rights, saying the ruling "raises questions concerning the Department of Fish and Wildlife motives and ability to manipulate the process for their own ends." The CDFW is a signatory to both the original and amended KBRA.Marshall also alleges that "significant pressure was brought to bear on those ranchers and farmers who decided to sign up or face potential impact to their power and irrigation water availability in the event that the project went ahead without their being a party to it." He adds, "The tribes and non-governmental organizations, in our opinion, obviously are not ready to give up on the opportunity to raid the public treasury. The significance of the hundreds of millions of dollars which are involved in the KBRA cannot be under estimated."The release concludes by stating that SCWUA believes "In the end, the right decision will be made, leaving the dams in place, producing blue power for our region and the issues confronting the salmon at sea and as they enter the riverine system will be resolved."